National News

Alt News & YouTurn Try To Discredit RSS & Seva Bharati Relief Efforts In Kerala Landslides

August 5, 2024
The Commune

Alt News and YouTurn stooped to a new low in opportunism today as they tried to milk the Wayanad Landslide tragedy to malign the relief works of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Rashtriya Seva Bharati in affected areas. This misinformation campaign continued even as two RSS workers lost their lives heroically while trying to save landslide victims.

Propaganda during crisis

Fake narrative peddlers continue to surprise us with their relentless pursuit of undermining opposition efforts, even when those efforts come from non-political organizations or community-focused NGOs. They seize every opportunity to attack their targets, eager to demonstrate loyalty to their political masters.

This includes individuals masquerading as fact-checkers, such as Congress supporters and Dravidian sympathisers. These so-called fact-checkers often act as toolkits for their political agendas, tweaking and distorting facts to align with their ideological interests.

A prime example is Mohammed Zubair and his organisation, Alt News, which shows a clear bias towards the Congress party. Similarly, the YouTurn fact-checking team, formerly led by Iyan Karthikeyan, who now holds a government position for previously peddling narratives for the Dravidian ideology, has strongly supported the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu.

Now, the problem with these people is that they have all been activated to seemingly peddle a certain narrative against the relief works of RSS and Seva Bharati in the recent Wayanad landslides in Kerala. In this regard, the service rendered by the volunteers was commended and shared gracefully in social media spaces.

Still, among them, some of the photos were depicting RSS volunteers in their official Khaki trousers attire and helping the people in distress in the 2018 Kerala floods. Immediately, like an opportunist waiting for a perfect opportunity, alleged fact-checkers Alt News and YouTurn started to peddle propaganda that the photos shared were from the past and tried to discredit the organisation Seva Bharati and RSS volunteers of their service in the current Wayanad relief operations to get brownie points from their masters and followers allegedly.

The issue with these individuals is that they have been mobilized to spread negative narratives about the relief efforts by Hindu organisations in response to the recent Wayanad landslides in Kerala. While the contributions of these volunteers were praised and shared positively on social media, some of the photos used unknowingly highlighting their work included RSS volunteers in their distinctive khaki uniforms, helping during the 2018 Kerala floods.

Seizing this “opportunity”, Alt News and YouTurn began falsely claiming that Seva Bharati and RSS volunteers were not involved in the current Wayanad relief efforts, attempting to undermine their contributions. 

A Reality Check

On 31 July 2024, the Vishwa Samvad Kendra media centre highlighted the active involvement of RSS and Seva Bharati volunteers in the relief operations for the flood-affected areas of Mundakkai following the landslide on 29 July 2024. The latest photos and updates confirmed their ongoing efforts.

Vishwa Samvad Kendra reported, “RSS and Seva Bharati swayamsevaks are actively engaged in relief operations in Mundakkai, which was hit by a landslide on 29 July. Volunteers from the state, district, and local levels of RSS, along with Seva Bharati members, have been providing aid. By 8 a.m. on the landslide day, swayamsevaks were already on site, starting their relief work. A help desk was established in Meppadi to coordinate efforts. Two ambulances from Seva Bharati and Peepil are offering services. Many bodies have been recovered, and numerous lives have been saved from the debris.”

“Food for hundreds was prepared at Pazhassi Balmandir of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Mananthavady and transported to the affected areas. Seva Bharati’s Chitagni unit in Wayanad is conducting cremations around the clock, and another unit, Ivar Math, is also assisting. Key RSS figures, including Uttar Kerala Prant Pracharak A. Vinod, Prant Sah Karyavah P.P. Suresh Babu, and Kozhikode Vibhag Karyavah N.P. Rupesh visited the site to provide guidance. They also reached out to the injured in hospitals and those staying in relief camps. Volunteers from Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district brought food supplies at night. Many RSS and Seva Bharati karyakartas are actively engaged in these relief efforts,” the report said.

(Image Credit: Vishwa Samvad Kendra)

On 2 August 2024, “The Hindu” also reported that Seva Bharati volunteers had established collection points at various locations. Throughout the night of 31st July, people donated essential items such as bottled water, biscuits, and sanitary products. Vijayan D, State Vice-President of Seva Bharati, stated that collected items would be sent to their Kozhikode office for distribution to relief camps. Collection counters have been set up in Neyyattinkara, Attingal, near Pazhavangadi Ganapathi temple and SP Fort Hospital. He mentioned that their goal is to assist with the rehabilitation of camp residents and help them relocate to safer areas.

Unsung Heroes

Two young men from Churalmala, Wayanad, lost their lives while saving others during a devastating mudslide in Mepadi. Sarath Babu and his friend Prajeesh emerged as local heroes in the face of disaster. Both were RSS swayamsevaks/Seva Bharati volunteers and also said to be BJP karyakarthas.

Sarath Babu, son of Murugan and Subbalakshmi, ensured his family’s safety before plunging into rescue operations. He managed to save 15 people from the mudslide before mysteriously disappearing. His last words to his family were, “Come now, you must sit here.”

Prajeesh, a respected social worker in Churalmala, was known for always being ready to help those in need. He made two successful rescue trips up the hill, saving several lives, including his family. Despite friends’ attempts to stop him, Prajeesh insisted on a third rescue mission.

On their final attempt, Sarath and Prajeesh drove a jeep up the hill but couldn’t reach Churalmala Bridge. The surging soil and water swept away the vehicle and both men. Prajeesh’s body was later recovered and cremated. Sarath’s mortal remains are still said to be missing.

RSS and Seva Bharti Workers in Wayanad

Meanwhile, Mediyaan News has been continuously updating its official X account on the relief efforts of RSS volunteers.

Additionally, BL Santhosh, the BJP’s National General Secretary, shared the contributions of RSS karyakartas on his official account.

Kerala BJP and Yuvamorcha Karyakartas work tirelessly to save lives and support relief operations.

Alt News and YouTurn might next argue that the BJP, RSS, Yuvamorcha, and Seva Bharati are separate organizations with distinct “agendas” or demand the identification of RSS volunteers based on their khaki uniforms. This reasoning is perplexing, as it ignores the evident continuity of RSS involvement. The RSS was active during the 2018 Kerala floods and the Wayanad landslides.

These “fact-checkers” will never admit to the fact that RSS and Seva Bharti volunteers are the first to show up for rescue operations during any mass disaster.

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